State residents will not be required to shelter-in-place. Grocery stores, banks, hardware stores, and other essential businesses will remain open.

The order empowers any law enforcement officer in the state to impose its directives through fines, imprisonment or a quarantine order.

Abbott stressed the importance of physical activities like jogging, provided people follow social distancing measures. He said religious services should be conducted remotely or follow the distancing guidelines.

"Now is not the time for us to let up in these distancing efforts," Abbott said.

According to the governor, 41 people in Texas have died from COVID-19.

Abbott said 42,922 people have been tested for the virus, with 3,266 positive cases across 122 counties. Only 2.4 percent of the beds available for COVID-19 patients are currently occupied, he said.